A CBS Sports NFL editor, R.J. twice has cashed huge in the world's most prestigious handicapping tournament, the Westgate Las Vegas SuperContest. In 2017 he tied for 18th out of 2,748 contestants with a 52-29-4 mark against the spread. In 2015 he tied for 39th out of 1,727 entries with a 51-32-2 record. R.J. consistently crushes the NFL for SportsLine members: All-time he's 265-218-22 on ATS picks, returning $2,335 to $100 players. R.J. has many years of experience analyzing NFL statistics and trends, beginning with Super Bowl XXV. For R.J. White media inquiries, contact SportsLine@CBSInteractive.com.

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ALL PICKS FROM R.J. & THE REST OF OUR EXPERTS

A CBS Sports NFL editor, R.J. twice has cashed huge in the world's most prestigious handicapping tournament, the Westgate Las Vegas SuperContest. In 2017 he tied for 18th out of 2,748 contestants with a 52-29-4 mark against the spread. In 2015 he tied for 39th out of 1,727 entries with a 51-32-2 record. R.J. consistently crushes the NFL for SportsLine members: All-time he's 265-218-22 on ATS picks, returning $2,335 to $100 players. R.J. has many years of experience analyzing NFL statistics and trends, beginning with Super Bowl XXV. For R.J. White media inquiries, contact SportsLine@CBSInteractive.com.

R.J.'s

Past Picks

The Patriots are back in the Super Bowl, and I'm not going to be the one to pick against them, not when they'll be up against a Rams team with a quarterback I don't particularly trust in big spots and a defense that has trouble shutting down the run. Why does that matter? Because the Pats have morphed into a smashmouth rushing offense, running for 176 yards against the Chiefs in just the latest big performance by Sony Michel and company. I think Bill Belichick will do enough defensively to slow down Sean McVay and give the Patriots what could be a fitting ending to the dynasty they began in 2002 by beating the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Drew Brees just hasn't looked like his normal self throwing the ball in the second half, and it's curtailed the Saints' ability to score quick touchdowns down the field. I think they'll lean more on the run game in this matchup against a bad Rams rush defense. Jared Goff hasn't looked great in the second half either, and the Saints have the defense to slow the Rams run game and make Goff beat them. Despite being in the dome, I don't think we're going to quite get the fireworks we'd normally expect from these two teams, and the Saints defense will help keep us Under the total.

If you're going to pick against the Patriots in the playoffs, do it when they're on the road facing the best offense in the NFL. The Chiefs have scored 26 points or more in every game this year, and they'll be looking for revenge after scoring 40 in Foxborough early in the season and losing. The Patriots were 3-5 straight up on the road this year, and while the win in Chicago was impressive, the other two game against Josh McCown and Derek Anderson. The game should favor the team that's better on third downs and in the red zone. That favors Kansas City (second in both) over New England (middle of the pack in both).

Much has been made of the Saints' offensive struggles in the second half, but don't overlook how well the defense has played. They've given up 17 points or less in seven of their last nine games, with the two exceptions being against a desperate Steelers team in Week 16 and a throwaway game in Week 17. Jared Goff hasn't played well since the calendar turned to December, posting one game with more than 220 yards in his last six and a total of six TDs during that stretch (with four coming in one game). The Saints were second in yards per attempt allowed in the regular season and can force Goff to beat them. He won't.

The high in Kansas City is projected to be 16 degrees, and that's a concern for anyone taking the Over. There have been 61 NFL games since 2000 where the temperature was 19 degrees or less, and only 11 of those games finishes with 57 points or more. In the playoffs, we've seen just 34 games all-time where the temperature was 19 degrees or less, and only five of those managed to finish with at least 57 points. I'd be shocked if these teams engage in a shootout in these conditions, and with the total already dropping to 56, I'm getting on board now.